Measuring-tank.



E. J. BRYAN.

MEASURING TANK.

APPLICATION'FILED MAY 2l, |914.

Patented Feb. 22,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

ATTO R N EY THE COLUMBIA PLANGGRAPH 0.. WASHINGTON. D. c.

E. J. BRYAN.

MEASURING TANK.

APPLlATloN FILED MAY21'.1914.

Patented Feb. 22,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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y f I 'WITNEssEs E l ENToRV,

ATTO R N EY THB COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH C0.. WASHINGTON, D. C.

" the latter is full.

riNiTnD srnrnsrafrnnfr onnion.

EDGAR J'. BRYAN, OF RIVERSI)lil,` CALIFORNIA, ASSIG'NORl OF ONE-HALF TOVIILLIAM THOMPSON, OF RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA. i

i MEASURING-TANK.

Specification of Letters Patent. i yPatented Feb. 22, 1916.

Application led May 2'1, 1914:.` Serial No. 840,079.

To @ZZ whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, EDGAR J. BRYAN, a

citizen of the United States, residing atto the initial position, atwhich point the receptacle is high enough for the gravitating of thecommodity to the point of utilization.

The present invention is designed more particularly for portability, andwhilefnot confined in use to anyparticular commodity,

is especially valuable for supplying measured quantities of gasolene tothe gasolene reservoirs of automobiles. For this purpose mounted upon atruck in such manner that the tank may be wholly or partially rotatedupon a horizontal axis, while at one side of the axis of the supply tankthere is provided a measuring receptacle permanently connected to thesupply tank in a manner whereby on the rocking yof the/tank to bring thereceptacle lowermostthe gasolene or other liquid in the supply tank willflow lby gravity into the measuring receptacle untill On the return ofthe re' ceptacle to the uppermost position the liquid deposited thereindoes not flow out therefrom but remains within the receptacle to bedrawn therefrom `as desired through a suitably valved outlet.'.Provision is made for holding the supply tank with the receptacleuppermost and for facilitating both the inflow of liquid into thereceptacle and the outflow of liquid therefrom. Furthermore, thereceptacle is provided with a gage which is suitably graduated to giveevidence ofthe amount of liquid within the receptacle, and thegraduations may be such that both the total amount of liquid Within thereceptacle before some is drawn olf and the amount drawn off at any timeis readily ascertained.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of thefollowing detailed description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, with thefurther understanding that while the drawings show a practical form ofthe invention, the latter is not confined to any strict lconformity withthe showing of the drawings, but may be changed and modified soV long assuch changes and modifications mark no material departure from thesalient features of the invention.

In the drawings'z-#Figure 1 is a side elevation of the structure of thepresent invention showingthe parts in the normal or upright position.Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the structure of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is asection on the line 3*?, of Fig. 2, but showing the tank inverted. Figais a sectionon the line Ll-t of Fig. l, but drawn on a larger scale.Fig. is a detail section on the line 5-5 of Fig. Q, but drawn on alarger scale. Fig. 6. is adetail section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 2, butdrawn 4on a larger scale. Fig. 7 is a more or less schematic frontelevation of av there is provided a tank of suitable capacity multipletank arrangement, embodying the present invention. y

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a tank 1 approaching acylinder in form, and provided with ends or heads 2, 3, respectively.

vThe general cylindrical form of the tank is not at all obligatory, butis advisable because'of the inherent strength and rigidity of such aconstruction. Extending in a general radial direction from the main bodyof the tank l is a continuation l as wide as the a-Xial lengthl of thetank and of appropriate radial length. `On`e end wall 5 of thecontinuation l be reversely curved to. the general cylindrical form ofthe tank and merge thereinto, while the continuation has an outer endwall 6 shown as substantially parallel to a tangent of the cylindricalwall of the tank. Inside of the continuation Ll is another wall 7 shownas substantially par-y allel to the wall-6 and spaced therefrom towardthe main vbody of thetank, and from one end of the wall Tis another wall8 eX- tended toward the wall 6 at `approximately right angles to thewall '7A and entering a return portion 9 of the 'wall 5, but the end ofthe wall 8 is spaced a short distance from the rounded intermediate oryoke portion of the wall 9. The wall Q2 opposite the wall S completesthe continuation 4. There is also provided another wall 10 continued icofrom the Wall 8 in substantial parallelism With the Wall 5 and the Wall10 merges into a wall 11 tangent to and ljoining a sleeve 12 fast to theend Walls 2 and 3.

The sleeve 12 is traversed by an axle 13 mounted in a filling block 14within the sleeve 12 and the axle in turn extends through head plates 15exterior to the Walls 2 and 3 and made fast to the block 14e. The axle13 is suitably mounted in a manner to be described, and the whole tankis capable of rotating thereabout. The sleeve v12 and axle 13 aredisplaced With relation to the center of the body of the tank toward thecontinuation 4, so that the main body of the tank is eccentric to theaxle.

The Walls 5, 8 and 10 define a passageway constitutes a reservoir forthe reception of` gasolene or other liquid.

Because the device is intended more particularly for the readyintroduction of gasolene into the reservoirs of automobiles,

it Will be hereinafter considered for convenience of description thatthe tank `1 is a gasolene receptacle, although, as will also hereinafterappear, it may be employed for the reception. and transportation oflubricating oils or other liquids.

In the Wall 22 of the receptacle 17 there is an opening closed. by aWindow 18, Which Window may be made of glass surrounded by a frame 19,which for convenience is made quite narrow and quite long, While themargins of the frame have graduations 20, 21, Which graduations may bearranged to read in opposite directions, so that When the receptacle hasIasolene therein the graduations on one side, say, the graduations 20,Will indicate the number of units, say, gal lons, of gasolene in thereceptacle, While on the other side the graduations 21 may read in theopposite direction, thus readily indicating the number of units, say,gallons, of gasolene taken out from this receptacle, which extraction ofgasolene may be brought about in the manner to be described. This Wallalso carries an inlet tube or pipe 23 entering the receptacle 1 throughthe Wall 22 closer to the axle 13 than is the Wall 7, and Whatconstitutes the upper end of the pipe 23 When the receptacle 17 isuppermost is ordinarily closed by a cap 24C on the removal of Which thetank 1 may receive a supply of 'gasolene, and after it is filled the capis replaced, thus preventing leakage or evaporation.

Extending through the Wall 22 atany convenient point and close to thewall 7 is a nipple 25 carrying a valve 26 which valve may be a gatevalve controlled by a lever 27. Connected to the nipple 25 .is a `pipe28 containing a check valve 29 and y'extending through the Wallof thetank 1 close to` what constitutes the bottom of the tank when the latteris in the normal 'upright position. The pipe 28 constitutes a vent forthe receptacle 17, the check valve 29 closing When the tank is uprightand open` ing when the tank is inverted, so that on the inversion of thetank gasolene is directed into the passage 16 in part by the Wall 11,and flows through the return portion of the passage about thecorresponding end of the Wall 8 into the receptacle 17, air or gasWithin the receptacle escaping` through the then open check valve 29 andpipe 23 to the then upper end ofthe tank 1, so that there is nointerference with the ready flow of the gasolene into the receptacle 17until the latter is filled.V On the return of ithe tank to the normalupright position the check valve 29 automatically closes and as thereturn endl of thel passage 1G is then uppermost the gasolene isimprisoned lWithin the receptacle 17 andcannot flow therefrom except byWay of the valve 26, Which'latter is supplied with an outflow pipe 29a.This outflow pipe maybe a flexible pipe vof suiiicient length and sizeto tbe readily introduced into the lling openingoi' a gasolenereservoir, and gasolene will then `gravitate into the automobilereservoirvon the open-1 ing of the valve 26.

In order that subatmospheric conditions within the receptacle 17 maybeavoided, the

top 6 is supplied with an air inlet valve 30 f controlled by a rock arm31 connected bva link 32 to the manipulating lever 27,. so that on theopening of the valve 26 by an appro` priate movement of the lever=27lthe valve 30 is opened,\vhereby air readily loivs into the receptacle17 as gasolene loivs therefrom. through` the valve 26 and pipe 29a.lVhen the valve 26 is closed the air inlet valve 30A is likewisefclosedand leakage and evapora. tion are thereby avoided.. In order to readilyrock the tank -1 upon its supporting axle 13, handles 33 are made -astto and project from Athe tank 1 and otherpa-rts Wherever deemednecessary.

In order to provide for the ready transportation oit the tank 1 Where itis desired that the latter kbe made portable,A a suitable truck issupplied.v This truck comprises Wheels 34 mounted. on stub axles eachcarried by a respective leg l36 of a yoke frame 37, the. yoke framehaving the legs 36 provided with Ian out-of-line bend 38, so that theaxles 35 are in a .dillerent vertical plane from the axle 13,' thusbringing the centerf of gravity of the devicerto one side of thevertical plane of the axes of the Wheels 34,

F ast to each leg 36 of the frame 37 is an inclined barg39 terminatingat one endin` a handle 40 and at the other end carrying one end of anaXle or rod 41, this latter axle or rod having small Wheels or rollers42 mounted thereon close to the respective bars 39, these bars extendingto both sides of the legs 36 of the frame 37. Made fast at respectiveends to corresponding ends of the rod or axle 41 are other bars 43 eachappropriately bent and connected at an intermediate point to the frame37 close to the junction of the legs 36 therewith. That end of each bar43 remote from the rollers 42 is made fast to one end of another bar 44continued through and made fast at an intermediate point to acorresponding bar 39, and from thence extended to the corresponding leg36 at a point higher than the bend 38.

The frame 37 With the bars 39, 43 and 44 are representative of anysuitable truck frame and the truck support is not to be considered asnecessarily limited to the eX- act construction indicated, but may bequite Widely varied in construction so long as the purposes of theinvention are provided for thereby.

The upper ends of the legs 36 receive the axle 13 which may be rivetedor otherwise made fast at its ends to the corresponding ends of the legs36, or may be secured thereto in any suitable manner.

Fast at one end to one of the legs 36 at an appropriate distance belowthe upper end of the leg is a latch bar 45, this bar being shown as madefast tothe leg by a clip 46, but any other means may be employed for thepurpose. Near the upper end of the leg 36 under consideration there isprovided another clip 47 guiding the latch bar 45 but permitting 'alimited movement thereof from the corresponding leg 36. This latch baris traversed by a bolt 4S on Which there is mounted a spring 49 tendingconstantly to hold the latch bar against the corresponding leg 36, butallowing a limited movement of the latch bar away from the leg. Fast tothe side Wall 3 of the tank 1 is av keeper 50 into which thecorresponding end of the latch bar may enter, this keeper being'provided With a notch and inclined approaches which readily move thelatch against the action of the spring 49 and permit it to snap into theholding notch when the tank is in the upright position, thus preventingrotary movements oi the tank so long as the latch is lodged in thekeeper. A handle 51 at the upper end of the latch 45 provides aconvenient means for the manipulation ot the latch.

The tank 1 is mounted high enough above of many types of automobiles,

Thedevice is readily moved from place to place by grasping the handles40 and lifting the supporting ends of the legs 44 oit' the floor orother surface upon Which the truck is run, therollers 42 merely servingas means for preventinga rocking of the structure to an extent'` tooverbalance it at the end provided With the rollers 42.

The invention may be arranged in such manner as to include a pluralityof tanks 1 upon a single truck, so that the tanks may be supplied Withgasolene, lubricating oils or other commodities, whereby a singlestructure may be utilized for the transportation of various liquidsWhether for use in automobiles or in other connections.

The device is useful in repair shops, or

Wherever it is Idesired to supply liquids, es-l pecially in measuredquantities, and While the tank 1 is shown as mounted'upon a truck it isto be understood that it need not of necessity be so mounted, but may bemounted upon stationary supports when portability is of no moment. 1nFig. 7 a multiple arrangement is indicated, and While in the ligure noattempt is made to show any' minutia of structure, it is to beunderstood that the structure is similar to that shown in the otherfigures and the details of the construction are omitted merely to avoidconfusion oit' illustration.

The receptacle 17 is arranged to one side of what would constitute theperiphery of the main tank 1 if the tank be considered as Whollycylindrical, and the receptacle is so constructed that when thereceptacle is filled and the tankis returned to its normal position, thereceptacle is centralized, above the axis of rotation of the tank 1,which axis of rotation is, because of the eccentric relation of the mainbody of the tank thereto. above the center of gravity of said main bodyof the tank. It follows, therefore, that the center of gravity of thetank is low and even a comparatively small amount of gasolene in themain tank Will overbalance that in the receptacle 17 even though thelatter be full. vThe tank 1 is balanced no matter how much gasolene maybe in the receptacle, or how much may be drawn therefrom. The receptacle17 lmay be Wholly emptied of lgasolene Without in anymanner unbalancingthe tank 1, Wherefore the structure is always steady under allconditions of use.

That is claimed is 1. A rotatable storage tank for liquids having itsaxis of rotation eccentric to the center of the main body of the tankand provided with a receptacle extending from the main body of the tankon the saine side of the center lof the-latter as the aXis of ro-A station, said receptacle communicating With the body of the tank for thefilling of the receptacle by the movement of the latter to a 10W point,and, said tank having means for locking it with the receptaclesubstantially centralized over the axis of rotation of the tank.

2. A rotatable storage tank for liquids having its axis of rotationeccentric to the center of the main body of the tank and provided with areceptacle extending from the main body of the tank on the same side ofthe center of the latter as the axis of rotation, said receptaclecommunicating with the body of the tank for the filling of thereceptacle by the movement of the latter to a low point, and said tankhaving means for lockingit with the receptacle substantially centralizedover the axis of rotation of the tank, said receptacle and tank havingmeans of communication including a check valve opening toward the tank,and said means of communication connecting with the receptacle and tankat points constituting low points thereof when the tank is in the normalupright position.

3. A rotatable storage tank for liquids provided with a measuringreceptacle at one side of its axis of `rotation with means ofcommunication. between the body of the tank and the receptacle forfilling the lat-- ter when below the axis of rotation, and said.receptacle being movable rto a point above the main body of the tank, anoutlet for liquid from the ieceptacle communicating therewith at a pointconstituting a low point in the receptacle when above the main body ofthe tank, a valve in said outlet provided with a manipulating member, anair inlet valve on the receptacle, and connections between themanipulating member and the air inlet valve for causing .simultaneousmovements of both valves, the firstnanied valve beingpermanently locatedin the outlet of the receptacle.

lf. In combination with a support, a'rotatable storage tank for liquids,comprising a main body, means for pivoting the body of the tank to thesupport eccentrically to the center of said body, the latter beingprovided with a receptacle formed by a continuation of' the walls of themain body of the tank on the same side of the center of the latter asthe axis of rotation, said recep* tacle having an inlet communicatingwith the body of the tank at one end of the receptacle to allow for thefilling of the latter i by the movement to a low point, and meansprovided on the support for locking the tank with the receptaclesubstantially cen-- tralized over the axis of rotation ofthe tank,rwhereby when the receptacle is in an upright position and full it doesnot unbalance the tank, and an outlet for drawing the liquid from thereceptacle.

A. rotatable storage tank, for liquids,

of substantially cylindrical form with a radially disposed continuationhaving walls within'the tank defining a receptaclein said Liraaaacontinuation and also defining a tortuous passage between the main bodyof the tanky passage between the main body of the tank and saidcontinuation entering the latterby a return bend at a point remote fromthe main body of theftank, and said main body of the tank havinganotlierwall within ity extending from a point closely adjacent to its axis ofrotation to the passage leading to the receptacle to direct liquid tosaid passage when the tank is rocked "on its axis to n lower the saidreceptacle.

7. A rotatable storage tank for liquids of substantially cylindricalforni with a -iradially disposed continuation. having walls within thetank defininga receptacle insaid v continuation and also defining atortuous passage between the main body of the tank and said continuationentering the latter `by a return bend at a point remote from the.

main body of the tank', and said main body of the tank having` `anotherwall within it extending from a point closelyadjacent to its axis ofrotation to the passage leading yto the receptacle to direct liquid tosaidl passage when tlie tank is rocked on its axis to lower the saidreceptacle, said receptacle having a pipe leading therefrom to a pointwithin the main body of the tank and terniif natingnear that portion ofthe main body of the tank remote from. the receptacle,` said pipecontaining a check valve closing .toward the receptacle.

8. AL rotatable storage tank :for liquids oit substantially cylindricalforni with a radie ally disposed continuation having walls within thetank defining a receptacle in said continuation and also defining` atortuous passage between the main body ofthe tank, and said continuationentering the latter by a return bend at a point ieinote from the mainbody of' the tank, and. said main body of the tank having another `wall.withinit extending from a point closely adjacent to. its axis ofrotation. to tlie passage leading to.

the receptacle to direct liquid to said passage when. the tank is rockedon its axis to lower the said receptacle, said receptacle having .a`pipe leading` therefrom to a point within the main body of the tank andterminating near that portion of' the main body of the tank remote fromthe receptacle, Said pipeI containing a check valveclosing toward "thereceptacle, and said receptacle being also provided with an outlethaving a valve therein with accessible manipulating means, and a valvedair inlet connected to the manipulating means of the outlet valve forthe simultaneous opening or closing of both on the operation of themanipulating means.

9. A substantially cylindrical rotatable tank for liquids having itsaxis of rotation eccentric to the axis of generation of the tank andsaid tank having a radially oifset portion with its walls within themain body of the tank defining a measuring receptacle in said osetportion, said tank being provided with a tortuous passage leading fromthe main body of the tank into the receptacle at a point remote from themain body of the tank, other means of communication between thereceptacle and main body of the tank leading from a portion of thereceptacle close to the main body of the tank and opening into thelatter on the side of the axis of rotation remote from the receptacle,said means of communication kincluding a check valve closing toward themain body of the tank, and said receptacle being provided with means forthe withdrawal of liquid therefrom and the entrance of air thereinto.

10. A portable tank for liquids provided with a truck having supportingwheels and supporting legs with the tank having its center of supportbetween the axis of the wheels and the supporting legs, said tank beingof substantially cylindrical contour and rockable `upon a substantiallyhorizontal axis eccentric to the axis of generation of the tank and saidtank having a laterally offset measuring receptacle freely communicatingwith the body of the tank at a point remote from the latter for thelling of the receptacle by a rocking movement of the tank, and saidlreceptacle having means for the withdrawal of liquid therefrom.

11. A portable tank for liquids provided with a truck having supportingwheels and supporting legs with the tank having its center of supportbetween the axis of the wheels and the supporting legs, and said tankbeing rockable upon a substantially horizontal axis, the tank having alaterally offset measuring receptacle freely communicating with the tankat a point remote from the main body of the tank for the filling of thereceptacle by a rocking movement of the tank, and said tank having meansfor the withdrawal of liquid therefrom.

l2. A portable tank for liquids provided with a truck having supportingwheels and supporting legs with the tank having its center of supportabove the axis of the wheels and between the latter and the supportinglegs, said tank being of approximately cylindrical contour and rockableupon a substantially horizontal axis eccentric to the axis of generationof the tank and also said tank having a laterally odset measuringreceptacle freely communicatingky with the body 'of the tank at a pointremote from the body for filling the receptacle by a rocking movement ofthe tank, and said receptacle having means for the withdrawal of liquidtherefrom.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have heretoaifixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

EDGAR J. BRYAN.

Witnesses:

' T. F. FLAHERTY,

C11-IAS. J. RUCKHOFF.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

